§ 21. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of vibration white finger treated by the NHS in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [106258]
556W
§ Mr. DenhamThe incidence of vibration white finger (VWF) treated by the National Health Service is not recorded. Hospital admissions for VWF will be included in those people having 'cervical sympathectomy', the surgical procedure to treat it. These figures were:
- 1993: 391
- 1994: 379
- 1995: 467
- 1996: 487
- 1997: 301.
Recent research by the Medical Research Council estimates that 242,000 adults in Britain suffer from cold-induced finger blanching as a result of exposure to hand-arm vibration at work.